Electrically-operated automatic weighing machine



Nov. 10,1925. A 1,561,211 E. C. BREMER El" AL I ELECTRICALLY OPERATEDAUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE Filed July 8. 1924 5 Sheet s-Sheet 1 11- WWMW" M W W WW. V W"! Z4 Z5 15 /40 0Q 37/ V 3/ A v u.

43 ll [7 1% I jg 2f 4% LT? 42 W 67 -/0 Nov. 10 1925- v E. C. BREMER ElAL ELEGTRICALLY OPERATED AUTOMATIC WEIGHINGMACHINE I Filed July 8. 19245 Sheets-Sheet :5

INVENTQRS [O -am rem EF ATTORNEYS Nov. 10, 1925. 1,561,211

' E. c. BREMER El AL ELECTRICALLY OPERATED AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINEFiled July 8. 1924 1 s sne ts-snet 4' 5 ."2 R ow L w INVENTORJ Ez/ararfremer 1 laefer ATTORNEYS Nov. 10 1925- E. c. BREMER ET AL ELECTRICALLYOPERATED AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE Fiied July 8. 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 5A'ITO NEY chines Patented Nov. 10, 1 925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD CHARLES BRE'MEB AND WALTER JOHN SCHAEFER, OF SAGINAW, MICHIGAN,

' ASSIGNOBS TO BAKER-PERKINS COMPANY. INC, OF WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK.

ILEC'IBICALLY-OIPEBATED AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE.

Application filed July 8,

To all whomit army concern:

Be it known that we, EDWARD CHARLES BREMER and WALTER JOHN SGHAEFER,citizens of the United States, residing at Saginaw, in the county of Sainaw and State of Michi an, have invente a certain new and usefulImprovement in Electrically-Operated Automatic Weighing Machines, ofwhich the following is a clear, full, and exact description.

This invention relates to weighing ms.-

andparticularly to electrically operated machines which are adapted toweigh ofi automatically definite quantities of a given material.

It is important that machines of this type operate at a relatively highspeed, with ease and recision, as well as with the utmost possi lereliability. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention torovide a machine which will autom'atical; y weigh off exact quantitiesof a material as quickly as is practicable with complete accuracy, andwhich will o erate smoothly and in a thoroughly relialile manner.

In order to insure smoothness of operation and accuracy of results, theinvention includes as one of its features the provision in the operatingcircuit of the machine of a mercury circuit breaker or cut-out,comprising a conducting member movable into and out of a column ofmercury in response to the movements of the weight-responsive portion ofthe weighing mechanism.

In order to make such a machine thoroughly' reliable in o eration and toprevent accidental oscillation of the balance arm, or otherweight-responsive means, from opening or closing the circuit through themercury cut-out, or other circuit breaker, at an improper time in theoperation of the machine, so as to cause a false operation of its parts,the invention includes as another feature thereof the provision of acircuit arrangement, whereby the o eration of the circuit breaker isonly e ctive at such times as .is necessary for-the correctoperation ofthe machine.

In. certain known ty es of weighing machines, means are empoyed toincrease the accuracy thereof by curtailing the supply of material tothe weighing ho per or equivalent member toward the en of the weighingoperation. One device used for this purpose comprises separatelycontrolled 1924. Serial No. 724,885.

supply members, the supply from one of which is cut oil before thecompletion of the weighing operation. A particular feature of thepresent invention is the employment in connection with such a machineofia double mercury cut out, one member of which is in the circuit whichcontrols one of the supply devices, which is in the circuit whichcontrols the other of said devices, the contact elements of the cut-outbeing so arranged that contact will be broken in one cut-out memberbefore contact is broken in the other. Such an arran ement is includedin the particular embo iment of the invention shown and described.

The invention will be described in detail in connection with a flourandwater supply weighing machine, such as described in the app icationof Eugene Gase, Serial No. 684,942, filed January 8, 1924, for use inconnection with a dough mixing and kneading machine, although it is byno means limited to such use. Such an embodiment of the invention isshown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view mainly inelevation but partly in cross section, showing an automatic weighingmachine suitable for use in connection with a mixing and kneadingmachine, such as is used in commercial baking.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the line 2-2, Fi re. 3 of the circuitbreaker box and the dial casing with the sides thereof'removed to revealthe mercury cut-outs, the scale springs, and a portion of the dialmechanism;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the dial mechanism through thelines 3-3 inFig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the dial mechanism through the lines 4-4=in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a top view of the mercury cutouts through the line 5-5 in Fig.2;

and the other member ofv Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the 12respectivelyfor the necessary solid con- 11 and a pipe means, such as aU-shaped bracket 27 stituents and watery liquid for a kneading machine10. The mechanism for weighing oil" the solid component of a batch, suchas a flour mixture, which mechanism may with certain modifications beadapted for general use in the weighing of solid materials, comprises apair of conveyors 13 and 14 by means of which flour is carried from thebin 11 to a chute 15, by which it is conducted to a weighing hopper 16.This hopper is pivoted upon a balance arm 17 which oscillates onsuitable seats arranged on brackets 18 which are suspended from aframework 26. The balance arm is connected to a weighing rod 21, by anysuitable p1votally mounted on the arm by a p1n'28 T e weighing rod anditsconnections are enclosed in a casing 43 suspended by means of abracket 44 from the framework 26.

To the weighing'rod 21 are attached the movable members eta doublemercury cutout 20, or other suitable circuit breaking means, and a dialmechanism 19 to be described below; and the lower end of the rod I issecured to scale springs 39 in a manner of material, than conveyor 13.For example, motor 23 may be made to operate at 900 R. P. and may be sogeared to conveyor 13 that the latter will operate at 30 R. P. M., whilethe larger motor 25 making 1200 R. P. M. may be geared to conveyor 14 soas to turn the same at about 7 120 R. P. M. The double mercury cutout 20may be so adjusted and the dial mechanism 19 so arranged that toward theend'of the weighing operation, by means to be described below, thecircuit through which current is supplied to the larger motor will bebroken by the operation of one of the mercury cut-outs, whereafter onlythe small quantity of material carried by conveyor 13 will enter theweighing hopper 16. If the doublemercury cut-out 20 is properly adjustedand the dial mechanism 19 correctly set, the operation of the conveyor,13

I stop conveyor 13-.

will continue. until the required amount of flour has been carried tohopper-"16, whereupon the other cut-out will operate in a manner to belaterset forth to interrupt thecurrent supplied to motor '23. so as to pThe weighed ofi' flour. 'isremoved from' the weighing hopper 16 by theopening of a valve or shutter 30, which is preferably hand operated, soas to permit flour to enter the kneading machine 10 througha chute 31. I

The portion of the weighing mechanism Y numbered parts described inconnection with the weighing hopper 16. Similarly, there is associatedwith the weighing rod of tank 36, a double mercury cut-out 20 and a dialwhich illustrates one way in which the inmechanism'19, which areidentical with;

double mercury cut-out 20 and dial mechanism 19.

The tube 12 which supplies liquid to the tank 36 is divided into alarger branch 46 and a smaller branch 37 in wh1ch are inserted valves 32and 34 respectively, from which the liquid enters tank 36 through a pipe38. Valves 32 and 34 are equipped with electro-magnets 35 and 33'respectively, which are adapted to hold them open when energized. Thesemagnets are controlled by the members of double mercury cut-out 20', inthe same manner that motors 25 and 23 are controlled by double mercurycut-out 20. Thus, when double mercury cut-out 20 is properly adjustedand dial mechanism properly set, magnet 35 will be deenergized towardthe end of the weighing operation so as to cut 0d the supply of liquidthrough the larger branch 46 of pipe 12 and to perunit liquid to becarried to the tank only through the smaller branch 37, until such anamount of liquid is supplied to the weighing tank as to operate theother member of the double mercury cut-out 20', so

as to-de-energize magnet 33 and to cut off the supply of liquid throughbranch 37 After the operation of the weighing mechanism the liquid maybe removed from the tank 36 bythe opening of a cook 39 in a pipe 40through which the liquid flows into a funnel 41 and through astationarypipe 42 to a kneading machine 10.- In case two kneadingmachines are to be supplied with liquid, a second pipe 45 may beprovidedfrom tank 36 to carry liquid to the second machine.

Figs. 2 and 6 illuhtrate a form of double mercury cut-out which is welladapted for use in connection with the machine illustrated. I tcomprises a pair of mercury cutouts 50 and 51-, the tubes of which areset in an insulating member 53 mounted on a metal-lie bracket 54.Cut-out 50 comprises a pair of tubes 56, preferably of glass, eachhaving a stopper 5 of cork or similar materialin the b&86 tl19180fandcontainmg a of pins 62 are shown in Fig. 6 as projecting into themercury columns 58. These pins are adjustably mounted on a bracket 63 bymeans of set screws 64. Bracket 63' is mounted by means ofa set screw 66on an insulating tube 65 which is slid over rod 21 and rigidly aiiixedthereto.

Similarly mercury cut-out 51 is composed of a pair of tubes 68, eachcontaining a column of mercury into which projects, through a cork inthe base of the tube, a conductor 69 connected to a terminal 70,

to which one of the clrcuit connections for a cut-out 51 are attached.Similarly also a their mercury .front of thereto a pointer 88 which pairof pins 72 adjustably mounted on a bracket 73 by means of set screws 74are adapted to project into'the mercury columns in tube 68; and mountedon tube by means of a set screw 76. The position of brackets 63 and 73and of pins 62 and72 should be so adjusted that pins 72 will projectfurther into the mercury columns in tubes 68,;than pins 62 project intothe mercur columns 58. so that as the rod 21 is carrie upwardly by themovement of the balance arm 17in response to an increasing weight ofmaterial in hopper 16 or in tank 36 pins 62'will be withdrawn fromcolumns before pins 72 are withdrawn from theirs. Set screws 64 and 74vpermit the proper adjustment of pins 62 and 72 upon tively, while setscrews 66 and 76 permit the correct positioning of the brackets uponinsulatingtube 65. Thus, these parts may be so set that thealpinsxof thefcut-outs will break contact with their respective mercury columns atthe proper relative times in the operation of the machine. inqs 77 and78 formed therein so as to perunit these adjustments to be readily made.

The lower end of rod 21 'extends'into the dial casing 48, as shown in Fi2, and is pivotally attached to a bracket 79 to which are fastened theupper ends of the scale springs 39, the lower ends of which are securedto a crossbar 80 which is rigidly fixed to the casing 48 on the dialmechanism. A

rack bar 81 is pivotally suspended from the.

bracket 79 and is pressed .bymeans of a spring 82 against a gear wheel83 meshing therewith. As is shown in Fig. 3, gear wheel 83 is revolublymounted on a shaft 84 which extends throng I the center of the dialmechanism.- The hub 85 of gear wheel 83 is prolonged so as toextendoutside the the casing 48, and has attached indicates the weightof material in the hopper 16 (or the tank 36) upon a calibrated sca e 89(Fig. 1),

and 51 so that the pins bracket 73 is adjust-ably brackets 63 and 7.3respec- Box 47 has open-- and. 68 that the movement The hub 85 turnswithin a bearing 90, fas tened to the front of the dial casing.

The machine will weigh any required uantity of material-automatically bysettlng, when the weighing receptacle is empty and the pointer 88 on thezero point, the bracket 54 carrying the mercury tubes 50 73 dip so farinto the mercury contained in the tubes 51,. that, when the materialentering the weighing receptacle raises the scale beam 17 and thus alsothe pins 73, the latter emerge from the mercury and thereby stop thesupply of ma terial to the weighing receptacle, as soon as the re uired'quantity of the same has entered t e latter. The length of the pinsdipping into the mercury of the cut-outs is conveniently controlled bymeans arranged at the dial-mechanisms 19 and 19 and adapted to set anindicator along the dial 89 in accordance with the required quantity ofmaterial to be weighed.

This means is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 and includes a rack bar 92mounted on the bracket 54 and slidably held within a sleeve 93 which isrigidly affixed to crossbar 80 and to the dial casing 48, as shown inFig. 4. Into an o ening in this sleeve there is set a gear w eel 94which meshes with rack bar 92 and is rigidly mounted on shaft 84. Thisshaft turns at one end in the prolonged hub 85, described above, and atits opposite end in a hearing 95 in the rear of the dial casing.Attached to the latter end of shaft 84 is a lever 96 bent about the dialcasing so that its end laps over the front thereof. To

this end is attached a pointer 97 which, as

movable about the calibrated scale 89 on the face of the dial. Thus theoperative, by moving the lever 96 so that pointer 97 indicates on thescale 89 the necessary amount of material to be weighed ofi, will beable bracket 54 carrying the mercury tubes 56 of rod 21 will withdrawthe pins 62 and 72 from their respective mercury columns at the propermoment to cut off the supply of material to the weighing hopper or tank.In order that the lever 96 and its nism, includin mercury tubes 56 and68, may be maintained throughout the weighing operation in the positionset, a thumb screw 98 is provided in lever 96 so that this lever may belocked against the dial casing.

Fig. 8 shows a cif'cuit arrangement which may be used with the machinedescribed above andgby which a false operation of the m'achine5qdue tothe closing of the mercur cut-outs or other circuit breakers, byaccidental oscillations of the balance arm after the required amount ofmaterial has been weighed oil may be effectively prevented. his circuitarrangement is shown shown in Fig. 3, is

to so position associated mechathrough conductors 111,:1nd 112, Conducstors 109 and 1 10 together with a conductor,

113, which is attached to one side of the mercury cut-out 51, arecontrolled by the three blades of a triple switch 115, which is normallyheld open by a spring 116'attached to its actuating bar which forms thearmature of an electromagnet120. .In a like manner conductors 111 and112 together with a conductor 121, which'is attached to one side of themercury cut-out 50, are controlled by the three blades of a tripleswitch 125, which is normally held open by a spring 126, attached to abar 127 forming the armature for an electromagnet 130. A lead 131 runsfrom main .101 to a starting switch 132 normally held open by a spring133 and adapted to close two contacts 134 and 135.

In the operation of the machine starting switch 132 is closed either byhand or by suitable automatic means atthe beginsv ing of a weighingoperation. The closing of the switch completes a circuit running fromterminal 105 through conductors 101 and 131, contact 134, a conductor137, a conductor 138, electromagnet 120, a conductor 139, aconductor140, a previously closed I --operating switch 141, a conductor 142, and

conductors 110 and 102,130 terminal 106.

' Electromagnet 120 is thus energized and attracts its armature 117 soas to close triple switch 115 so as to close a circuit throughconductors 109 and 110 to connect motor 23 across the line circuit so asto'start can: veyor. 13. Simultaneously with the closing of contact 134,contact 135 will becloserl to complete, a circuit from terminal 105,

through conductors 101 and 131, a contact 135, a conductor 144, aconductor 145,elec

' tracts its armature, so as to tromagnet 130, a conductor 146, aconductor 140, operating switch 141, conductors 142,110 and 102, toterminal 106. Electromagnet 130 is thus energized and. at-

close" triple switch 125, connecting motor 25; across the line circuitand starting the conveyor 14.

The closing of triple switch 115 also coinpletesfa circuit running fromaterminal 105 through conductors 101 and 109, a

- branch conductor 147, a mercury cut-out 51,

conductors 113 and 138, 'electromagnet 120,

conductors 139 and"140, switch 141. conductors 142, 110, and 102 toterminal 106. Similarly the closing of triple switch 125 alsocompletes'a circuit running from terminal 105 through conductors 101 and111, a branch conductor 148, mercury cut-out 50,

conductors 121 and 145,- magnet 130, conductors 146 and 140, switch 141,conductors 142, 110, and 102,,to terminal 106. Thus, there areestablished circuits through electromagnets 120 and 130, which will keepthese magnets energized, and switches 115 and 125 closed after therelease of starting switch break the circuit of motor 23, but to break Ithe circuit through cut-out 51 and conductiir 113, so that if the pinsof cut-out 51 are later plunged accidenta ly into the mercury columnsthereof, no energizing circuit for the magnet 120 will be establishedthereby, and

the magnet will remain de-energi-zed and the switch 117 open, untilstarting switch 132 is again operated.

It will thus be apparent that this circuit arrangement or otherarrangements embodying the basic idea thereof willbe exceedingly usefulin-connection with automatical weighing machines, and will do much toincrease their reliability by eliminating the possibility of excessiveamounts of material being supplied to the-weighing hopper'or tank, aftera circuit breaker has once been operated thereby. It will, of course, beapparent that this type of circuit may be used or any variety of circuitbreaker, and is not limited to use with the mercury cut-out shown. a

It will also be apparent that the-invention as a whole is not limited tothe particular embodiments thereof shown and described.

What we claim as new is: r

In a weighing machine, a balance arm, a

container for the material to be weighed attached to one end of saidarm, a rod attached to the other end of said arm, a fixed sprin memberattached to the free end of the ro electrically -o erated' means. forcontrolling the supply 0 material to said container, an electricalcircuit, connections to said electrical circuit for said electricallyoperated means, a'mercury cut-out comprising a pair of tubes eachcontaining a column of mercury and a pair of electrically connected pinsinsulatedly. mounted on said rod, means the other on said rod,

. ing

' electrically operated means,

including said mercury cut-out for breasing said connections, a base ofinsulating material for said tubes, and means for adjusting the positionof said base and said tubes so that the pins the mercury contained insaid tubes when the balance arm is in any desired position. v 2. In aweighing machine, a balance arm, a container for the material to beweighed attached to one end of said arm, a. rod attached to the otherend of said arm, a pair of fixed sprin members attached to the free endof sai rod, a rack connected with said rod, a gear meshin with saidrack, a pointer turning withsai gear, a calibrated scale for saidpointer, a. pair of electrically operated means for supplying themateria to be weighed to said container, an electric circuit,connections to said electric circuit for each of said electricallyoperate means, a double mercury cut-out comprising two pairs of tubeseach containing a column of mercury, material for mounting said tubes,leads to said circuit from each pair of tubes, a pair of bracketsinsulatedly mounted one above a pair of pins so'positioned in each ofsaid brackets that their lower ends will be immersed in and withdrawnfrom said mercury columns by the. the rod,

movements of thebalance arm and means including said mercury cut-outsforbreak contact with a base of insulatingsuccessively disconnecting saidelectrically.

operated means sively increasing supplied to said amounts" of materialare container, a rack connected to said base, a gear meshing with saidrack, a bar fixed to said gear and movable about said calibratedscalefor positioning said base in said tubes, and means for locking saidbar in any desired position.

3. In a weighing machine,a container for the, material to be weighed,electrically-operated means for su plying material to said container, amain e ectrical circuit, connections to said circuit for theelectrically operated means,

an electrical cut-out, a

tri le' switch whereby said connections and sai auxiliary an auxiliarycircuit'contain-x the material to be weighed, electrically opfrom saidcircuit as succes -f container, a pair of auxiliary circuits eachcontaming one of said electrical cut-outs, a pair of triple switcheseach of which will close one of said connections and'one of saidauxiliary circuits, means for normally maintaining said switches open,electromagnetic means in each of said auxiliary circuits for maintainingits respective switch closed, a starting push button, a pair of contactsclosed thereby, and a pair of circuits each including one of saidelectromagnetic means and one of said contacts for closing saidswitches.

5. In a weighing machine, a balance arm, a container for the material tobe weighe attached to one end of said arm, a rod atl tached to theother'end of the arm, a spring member attached to the free end of saidrod, electrically operated means for controld ling the supply ofmaterial to said containto said circuit for said electrically operatedmeans,

or, an electrical circuit, connections a mercury cut-out comprising apair of mercury containing tubes, and a pair of pins attached to saidrod, means including sai cut-out for breaking said connections, theholding member of insulated material for said tubes, and means foradjusting said adjustable members and said tubes so as to cause saidpins to come into contact with the mercury in said tubes when thebalance arm is in any desired position.

6. In a weighing machine, a container for the material to be weighed, aplurality of electrically operated means for controlling the supply ofmaterial to the container, an electric circuit, connections to,saidelectric circuit for each of said electrically open "a plurality ofmembers,

ing each of said circuit are closed, means fornormally'mam taining saidswitch open, electromagnetic means in said auxiliary circutfor maintaining said switch, closed, a starting push'button, and a second auxiliarycircuit including the push button and said electromagnetic means forclosing said switch.

4. In a weighing machinaa container for" the material tobe weighed, apair of electrically operated means for supplying the material to thecontainer, a mam circuit, connections to said circuit a air of electriccut-outs, means to successively operate the cut-outs as successivelyincreasing amounts of material-are supplied to sai for each of said Lacontainer for the material increasing amounts of supplied to saidcontainer.

means including one member of said mercury cut-out for breakconnections,and means for successively causing the. operation of said mercurycut-out members when successively material have been 7 In a weighingmachine, a container for erated" means controlling the supply ofmaterial to the container, an electrical circuit, connections to saidelectrical circuit for said electrically o erated-means, a balance armoperated by t operated by means including said breaking saidconnections,

the movements oi said arm, mercury cut-out for and means for to themovements of the alance arm. I a 8. In a weighing machine, a balancearm,

to be weighe attached to one end of said am, a rod attached to the otherendlof said arm, a pair of f xed spring members attached tothe free endof said rod, a conveyor for sup the material to said container, an eectric e container, a mercury cut-out doe adjusting said cut-out to ocrate in response motor for operating said conveyor, an electrlccircuit, connections from said electric clrcult to said motor, a mercurycut-out comprising a pair of tubes each containing a column of mercuryand a pair of conducting pins insulatedly attached to said rod andadapted to be lmmersed in and withdrawn from said columns of mercury bythe movements of the rod, a holding member for said tubes composed ofinsulating material, a rack connected to said rod, a gear turned by therack, a pointer turning with said gear, a calibrated scale for thepointer, a rack attached to said holding member, a gear meshing withsaid rack, a bar fixed to said gear and movable about said calibratedscale for adjusting said holding member and said tubes, and means-forlocking said bar in any desired'position. v 9. In a weighing machine, acontainer for the material to be weighed, electrically operated meansfor supplying the material to said container, a main electrical.circuit, connections in said circuit for the electricallyoperated means,a mercury cut-out, an auxiliary circuit containing the mercury cutout, aswitch for closing and said auxiliary circuit, means for normallymaintaining the switch open, an electromagnet in said auxiliary circuitand having said switch as an armature, a momentarily operated switch,and a second auxiliary circuit including the last mentioned switch andsaid electromagnet. 4

10. "In a Wei hin -machine, a container for the materia to be weighed,a-plurality rality of auxiliary movable {into said connections ofconveyors for s'upfplying material to the container, a motor oroperating each of said conveyors, a main circuit, connections to saidcircuit for each of said motors, a plurality of mercury cut-outs, aplucircuits each including one-of said cut-outs, a plurality of switchesby each of nections and one of are closed, means said switches open, anelectromagnet operatively associated with each of said switches andincluded in the auxiliary circuit closed thereby,.a starting pushbutton, a plurality of conta'cts'clo-sed' thereby, and a plurality ofauxiliary-circuits each "including one of said contactsand one of saidelectromagnets for "closing the switch associated with the electromagnetg (Wei 'hin machine, a container teijif toie weighed, a weighingeallymovable in response to the weight? fj t if the material in thecontainer, a tubei containinga mercury column, a base for" said tube,'apin carried bf said rod and said mercury column, circuit connections forsaid mercury column and said pin, means for ad'us'ting the verticalposition of said base, an means-on said rod for adjusting the Verticalposition of said Miohigan, this 27th said auxiliary circuits Signed atSaginaw, day of June, 1924.

EDWARD CH LES BREMER. WALTER JOHN SGHAEFER.

which one of said con for normally maintain

